Lagos entrepreneur Laura Ikeji urges Governor Sanwo-Olu to regulate soaring rent costs for shops and offices, warning that many businesses may be shut down

Laura Ikeji, a popular Lagos entrepreneur and social media influencer, has appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene in the rising cost of house and shop rents in Lagos State.

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Speaking in a video circulating online, Ikeji, representing the Business Women Association of Lagos State, highlighted the challenges small business owners face due to escalating rent costs.

She revealed that she currently pays over ₦30 million in rent for two shops, up from initial rents of ₦4 million and ₦3 million.

She described the incremental increases over the years as unbearable, stressing that even with her income from influencing, the rising rents are unsustainable.

Ikeji warned that if rent prices continue to surge, many businesses may shut down or relocate outside Lagos. She urged the government to either regulate rent or provide financial support for struggling entrepreneurs.

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“Since you have refused to regulate the rent in Lagos, maybe you should start giving us money for business,” she said, noting that without intervention, she may be forced to either build her own space or close her shops next year.